55 percent of local angel investors are prioritizing the UAE over other global markets according to the latest research from startAD, the Abu Dhabi-based global accelerator anchored at NYU Abu Dhabi and powered by Tamkeen.
The findings reveal the importance of the UAE for angel investors globally and demonstrates the attractiveness of the region for startups.
For investors, FinTech startups were their most significant priority, receiving 29 percent of investments. However, Artificial Intelligence is continuing to emerge in the UAE as a key source of interest for startup investors, with 18 percent of investors watching its development, signifying the future emergence of entrepreneurism in the UAE centered on machine learning.
The research was unveiled at last week’s Angel Rising Investor Education Symposium, organized in partnership with VentureSouq, which brought together esteemed global leaders. These included President and CEO of Ken Miller Capital, Ken Miller; CEO of China Silkroad Investment & Development Ltd., Winston Ma; Managing Partner of Structure Capital, Jillian Manus; Managing Director at Kalaari Capital, Vani Kola; and Founding Partner at CRE Venture Capital, Pule Taukobong, to discuss the future of angel investment in the UAE from a world-wide context. Panelists addressed audiences on the emergence of key markets such as India and China, and Africa and the role of the UAE in the future of the global economy.
The research profiled the typical angel investor in the UAE, whose average age is 42, which demonstrates that the UAE has a significantly younger angel investment circle compared to other nations, such as the US (58), the UK (57), and France (60+).